The truth about a complex built for veterans and the middle class and how it has evolved through the years to become one of the more interesting and controversial of New York stories.

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Saturday, April 28, 2012

Finally

With the legality of the Stuy Town Greenmarket codified (yeah, I know) and, more importantly, with the prepping this complex is starting to get for an auction (to happen sometime in the future), work has begun on upgrading the ugly dirt patch along the southern end of the Oval park grounds that hosts, once a week when the season is right, the market. As I wrote in a comment recently, it's time for residents to sit back and watch and possibly enjoy the show, as we will be seeing more changes, hopefully all positive, to PCVST.

Meanwhile, Playground 10, which housed the ice-rink, is still closed for "maintenance." It's been about half a year since this popular playground has been used as a playground.

UPDATE: A reader sent in photos of the work that's progressing at the greenmarket area. Gravel, for one, is being poured over the ground, while pipes (drainage, electrical?) are being installed underground.

The reader also added this musical commentary:

ANOTHER UPDATE: Rumors that the long patch of gravel will now be called "Dan's Way" or "Garodnick Boulevard" are unfounded.

A NEW UPDATE: Word is that the auction of PCVST is not coming any time soon. We could be looking at something years in the making, after all legal stuff and arrangements have been settled.

84 comments:

Anonymous
said...

Interesting that all the work is taking place in Stuy & nothing at all happening in PCV. Take a walk through PCV and you'll see weeds and bare spots everywhere. Some areas headed toward dog runs. Any guesses why only Stuy getting fixed up?

Oh, I'm sure PCV will get an upgrade, too. There's always been more of a spotlight on Stuyvesant Town, particularly the Oval area. And don't forget where the leasing office is and that walk for prospective renters to a model apartment: the southwestern corner of ST. And sure enough, that's where work on the grounds has begun first.

If gravel and piping for food trucks is an upgrade, I'll stick with my brown patch of land punctuated by mulch piles and felled lamp posts.

Not much of a choice, really.

Hey, weren't we supposed to hear from our "partners" at Brookfield by now? The TA is still holding secret building meetings. Q: I wonder what they're sharing with their select attendees? A: Probably nothing. ;)

If there'll be nothing on top of that gravel, it may be a problem and really expose visually the sizable chunk that's been taken out of the Oval grass area for this greenmarket. Something had to have been done in that area (if the greenmarket is here to stay),and one hopes that aesthetics rule in whatever ST puts there.

A NEW UPDATE: Word is that the auction of PCVST is not coming any time soon. We could be looking at something years in the making, after all legal stuff and arrangements have been settled.

Concerned tenants who want Adam Rose, his so-called management company (more like mismanagement company) and CW Capital out of here ASAP would really like to hear more about what you know without you, of course, revealing your sources. How "official" is this? Thank you.

I don't think I can reveal my sources at this point, but realistically, even without sources, any auction will be at least a solid year away and probably much longer. First comes the Roberts resolution (which may or may not satisfy people), then a whole bunch of legal paperwork, maneuvers, etc, before this property can be put on sale. Right now, things are being spruced up, fixed, made right, to eventually present a property that outside entities will want to bid on because it shows a healthy profit and the possibilities of more profit, certainly with the real estate market in NYC improving.

I have also been told by reliable sources (imo, but cannot disclose) that there will be no sale for a LONG while. I understand if you don't want to print this. But I just can't understand why the TA and BF would go all viral so long ago when they must have known it would be years away, if ever. I don't understand how they could be so foolish and negligent.

STR do you know what's going on with the Oval Atrocities? Oval Film was closed for renovations. It's open again but no longer shows movies. They've made it even more useless than it was in the first place.

Oval Kids closed for renovations and is also back open for business and looks less appealing than it previously did.

Oval Lounge is currently closed and no doubt when it opens it will look no different.

Meanwhile the stone patios are all warping and they tore out the flowers they recently planted.

I know this is off-topic (not related to green market, noise, etc.,) but I would really appreciate it if I could get some feed-back, good or bad, as to cable/internet service around here. Can anyone tell me which is best Time Warner or FIOS? I have heard that RCN stinks. Currently have Verizon DSL and am tired of slow connections, but am also tired of them trying to pressure me into getting FIOS, which I understand is a pain in the neck to get installed as they rip out the copper wiring. Any suggestions, comments (be nice, please) would be welcome. Thanks!

Oval Film will be Oval Studio. Activities that were in Oval Lounge will now probably take place here. Oval Lounge will be Oval Cafe. Should be open to the public if they want to make money. Both Oval Lounge and Oval Film were particularly underused, so this is a way for the spaces to be "refreshed," with more residents going to them. (And, if it's open to the public, Oval Cafe will bring in more money for CW Capital.)

Re: cable service. I've had both TW and Verizon Fios. Fios has an edge on internet upstream speeds, but as far as downloading, TW seems to be pretty competitive speed wise. TW has an advantage of offering NY1 which is a good source of NYC news. Not true that they "rip out" your copper, BUT Fios does NOT use copper between your apartment and the central station, it's fiber "to the curb". So the copper in your apartment stays in place, and the phone line(s) get connected from the Fios interface to your apt. copper line(s). The only way to keep your existing copper to the CO is to pay for a separate phone line. Copper will work in a power outage because it has auxiliary power connected. Fios will only last 6-8 hours on a backup battery if the power fails. Roll the dice, NYC gets a major power failure about once every 15-20 years. BTW If you're upgrading to HD, then make sure that the video coax in your apt is in good condition, and is of the proper type. Otherwise, they'll need to run new cable. The cost of that is included in installation, but it means you have to move stuff that's in the way. I've never used RCN, so I can't comment on that.

The construction of the gravel path for the green market (Front of play ground 312) has cut down a small tree. A much larger tree is in the way. Will they cut it as well? This would make our green farmers tenants very Happy!

I used to have RCN in another apartment in Manhattan and I loved it. Then I moved to another state, had ComCast, which I thought sucked until I moved back here, got FiOS and never knew things could suck so bad. It's not the connections as much--my internet and cable are generally much more reliable than Comcast. But it's whole operating system, the channel guide is incomprehensible and clunky and don't even think about trying to get customer service on the phone. They make ComCast look like a small, family owned, accessible operation.

More outside people traipsing over the Oval turning it into a bare patch again. Where does this end? Also, with all these people from outside coming in to avail themselves of the Oval atrocities, concerts, etc., isn't that an increased security risk for those of us living here? The doors to the buildings are often propped open; I see people waiting in lobbies for someone to let them in on their way out; several times I have had my buzzer/intercom rang by total strangers who "know somebody here," but can't remember the name of the occupant! With all the transients, students and their friends, bffs, etc. it doesn't make a difference whose name is on the door or intercom because Rose gave up keeping track ages ago. There are three apartments in my building where the elderly RS tenants passed away over a year ago and the apartments have been renovated, cubiclized and rented to varying groups of students and the names on the doors and intercoms have not been changed at all! Stuyvesant Town is more open to the public than a 24/7 grocery only MUCH LESS protected! In fact, my buzzer just went off again as I am typing this and some strange kid was staring at me on the screen! Make sure your locks and chains are working, folks and look behind you when you come in. This place is open house now!

I switched to FIOS after 20 years with Time Warner. The TV picture is a bit sharper since there is little compression of the video signal compared to Time Warner and the upload speed on their Internet connection is much faster than Time Warner. Upload speed is not nearly as important as download speed unless you're uploading many photos/videos.

The only thing I miss is NY1 from Time Warner.

Verizon FIOS, Time Warner and RCN are all available in StuyTown and PCV.

A thought, though. I wonder how many outsiders do come into Stuy Town just to use its grounds as a park. Certainly a number of sunbathers are non-residents. I've seen them coming in from the Lower East Side, with their towels and chairs.

Thank you so much to the posters who responded to my request for opinions re: Time Warner/FIOS. I think I'll go with TW because I like NY1 and it's true that Verizon's customer service is bad. I was on the phone for almost 3 hours yesterday trying to get a problem resolved and when I eventually got to speak to a live person (in India) I got cut off. Whenever I called back to try again, I got some rep in the US wanting to "analyze" my account and then giving me the FIOS spiel. I think it is very hard work dealing with Verizon!

When I lived in Waterside, I'd do that every now and then on a Sunday. Sometimes on my way home from a run or an outing in the East village--I'd almost always cut through Stuytown to get to the river and sometimes stop and cop a squat for a hour or so. Not bring a towel and chair per se, but sit on the benches or the grass for a change of scenery. I never felt like I couldn't do that.

I hope they're not going to cut down any more trees, especially on the Oval. The Oval used to be absolutely beautiful when it was filled with huge trees. Rose massacred them all during their first regime. The trees are one of the most appealing features of Stuyvesant Town.

>>I realize that this doesn't seem to mean much, but an oval cafe open to the public isn't some kind of zoning infraction?<<

As we've learned from the greenmarket resolution, if a commercial enterprise is available solely for "residents and their guests," it appears to be zoned properly as an accessory use. I don't want to get ahead, though, and assume that Oval Cafe will be open to non-members of the amenities, so maybe IDs will be checked.

>>Sometimes on my way home from a run or an outing in the East village--I'd almost always cut through Stuytown to get to the river and sometimes stop and cop a squat for a hour or so. Not bring a towel and chair per se, but sit on the benches or the grass for a change of scenery. I never felt like I couldn't do that.<<

Of course, if this community is "public access" (and it IS) and anyone can walk through it as if it were a city street, one wonders about the bite of events and a greenmarket open "only to residents and their guests."

The situation in PCV is different than in ST. There are too many trees here close to the buildings. Pollen problems in the Spring plus so many trees block out the sun so grass has problems growing in some areas. Some places are completely barren. Walk through & you'll see that grass all along the edges has died. This is the first place the dogs go. Weeds now grow abundantly. Can you imagine what this place would look like if everybody owned dogs? This really goes to show the mentality of those in real estate like Tishman-Speyer. They truly wrecked this place.

This really goes to show the mentality of those in real estate like Tishman-Speyer. They truly wrecked this place.

Yes, they did. And they sleep just fine, thank you.

Once again, the few have ruined it for the many. The Tishmans and the dog owning/walking inconsiderates that allow their dogs to go anywhere and everywhere. Disgusting. Makes me cringe. And, equally bad, I walked into my laundry room the other day and the floor was covered with dog fur. Gross. Gross. Gross.

Um, there are dogs all over this city. I don't get it. And not everyone owns dogs, so that hypothetical is ridiculous no matter where we live. But dogs exist all over this city--this place is no different. You're complaining about dogs, period. That's weird.

Not every apartment complex or residential building in NYC allows dogs.

The problem with dogs in ST/PCV is that many dog owners do not follow the dog rules, which were even relaxed considerably for them. I always see dogs peeing on plants and flowers or wherever they choose to go. And I frequently see retractable leashes extended way out. During the summer months the smell of dog piss is strong throughout many parts of the complex. There is also the problem of barking dogs inside apartments.

Bottom line, however much dogs can be cute and great companions, the introduction of dogs was a mistake by Tishman Speyer, and it WILL get worse as the dog population increases here.

Meaning, dog owners are dog owners here or anywhere, no matter where you live. They could be digging up your tulips in the suburbs, pooping on your Upper East Side brownstone stairs, etc. It's not a Stuytown thing, it's a dog thing. Stuytown has nothing to do with it. (And yes, this is NYC and is a dog town. Most building do take dogs, and all buildings must permit dogs if they are a companion animal, which only takes a doctors note).

Would it be possible to automatically block all posts that start with "Um?" I think that, if you look back at the history of all of the "Um" posts, you will find that they never contain reasonable or meaningful content.

I hope you will seriously consider this request for the benefit of the whole STR community!

I had RCN for a year. They were great. Showed up the same day I called to sign up to connect me. Price was unbelievably cheap. The service blanked out about once a month but their customer service was great and they were very helpful. Then they jacked my rate up sky-high after my one year contract was up and I switched to Verizon DSL.

Verizon DSL sucks. Speeds are slow. I have to reset their modem all the time because it conks out. When they first hooked me up (I was already a landline customer) they knocked out my phone for a week. When it came back on it was all screwed up--buzzing and hissing. Basically unusable. They eventually fixed it but the process was terrible.

Customer service is...well...Verizon customer service. Which sucks just as bad as their telephone customer service sucks. And every week they mail me a FIOS letter. Ugh.

That said, boy is it cheap! Forty bucks for DSL and unlimited regional calling plus voicemail and caller ID.

Time Warner, anyone? Gee, cable is so...so...1984! I know people who have the triple play and, frankly, it works really well. Just costs over $100.

I think your connectivity should reflect your tenancy. Old timers like me should stick with the Verizon cheapskate package. We don't like to pay rent so why should we be any more willing to pay for our internet service? We're used to being screwed over and understand the "value proposition" in poor service as a result of the last ten years here.

If you're a fancy-pants market rater--with 6-8 people living in your crash pad--you should definitely go for FIOS, dude! You live a fast-paced, high-rent totally awesome lifestyle and your internet connection should reflect that! FIOS is fast! Really fast. About as fast as your money is going to fly out of your account every month--particularly after the first year passes. And don't worry about using the phone in a blackout, you've always got your cell. Er...the cell won't work either but who cares? No one will be delivering anyway...

The dog owner war is over. Notice I said dog owner, not dog. Owners are the issue here. That being said, I think we can all agree (even Rose Associates and CW Capital I believe do) that when Tishman Speyer unilaterally announced that dogs would be permitted here, it was done without any preparation or analysis on the impact to this property. CW Capital and Rose Associates inherited this policy and they have specified many regulations regarding dog ownership including registration, where dogs are permitted (dogs are not permitted in the playgrounds, the Oval, etc.), what breeds are permitted on the property and so on and so forth. Unless financial resources are budgeted for the enforcement of these regulations, they will be ignored. For example, in the past 3 consecutive days, I have seen three different dog owners with Siberian Huskies walking their dogs here, a breed not permitted on the property. None of these regulations are enforced since CW Capital's budget allocated to Rose Associates is inclined to support crap such as the noise events and now, miniature golf (?), at playground ten. The triumph of suburbia is now complete here. This blatant disregard of the dog regulations has also become a precedent for not following many of the other community regulations including lease requirements such as the 80% carpet requirement.

>>Meaning, dog owners are dog owners here or anywhere, no matter where you live. They could be digging up your tulips in the suburbs, pooping on your Upper East Side brownstone stairs, etc. It's not a Stuytown thing, it's a dog thing. Stuytown has nothing to do with it. (And yes, this is NYC and is a dog town. Most building do take dogs, and all buildings must permit dogs if they are a companion animal, which only takes a doctors note).<<

Of course, it's a Stuy Town thing if Stuy Town allows dogs, which it didn't for decades. NYC also has murders happening, but that doesn't mean if a murder happens here, it's okay because it's a New York thing.

That "companion" excuse is not legal, btw. A dog has to be a true service dog, and render a service that its owner cannot do, to be legal. Check out the meanings and rules on the internet.

>>This blatant disregard of the dog regulations has also become a precedent for not following many of the other community regulations including lease requirements such as the 80% carpet requirement.<<

I agree. It's amazing how many residents (and I include the older ones, too) just do whatever they want, regardless of the rules. There is a portion of residents that have no respect for any of the remaining rules & regs around here, which forces the rest of us to either ignore them while we seethe or call Public Safety/management and still seethe.

To state the obvious...and I mean the very obvious...here's the difference between dog ownership here and elsewhere in Manhattan. What makes STPCV different are the grounds. The formerly truly beautiful grounds. Outside of Central Park & Riverside Park, a tremendous rarity in Manhattan south of the GW Bridge. Almost everywhere else dog owners walk their dogs in the streets. But not here. The grounds are what set this place apart. Louse up the grounds & the place is greatly diminished. And that's what we're in the process of seeing...a great place being greatly diminished. There will be more dogs in time and there will be more mess and eventually people start yelling at each other openly. That's what's coming. It's just a matter of time.

Let's talk internet! Poster at 1:56 pm: Thank you SO MUCH for the detailed, informative and entertaining post! I have decided to dump Verizon and go with Time Warner. It'll cost a bit more, but if it cuts out the aggravation of having my internet go down every time my phone rings and having to deal with Verizon's absolutely useless customer service, then it will be worth it. Whenever I talk to someone at Verizon I realize more and more that they don't know shit from shine and their tech people in India (or wherever) are totally unintelligible. Probably TW outsources too, but I'm hoping I don't need customer service very often. BTW, I have spoken to some neighbors and co-workers who have FIOS and they say that when they had it installed they had months of aggravation and lousy service and that things got better, but they dread anything going wrong because of having to deal with Verizon's moronic customer service people. RCN, I wouldn't even consider. I've heard even worse horror stories about their service and rates. As an "old timer" (who hates to pay rent and thinks the world owes me ;-)) I remember when RCN was introduced here and all the illegal shennanigans that went on with RCN and MetLife. It was like Watergate!

I, too, remember the illegal and immoral relationship that RCN had with TS. Of course, RCN went bankrupt shortly thereafter and, perhaps more importantly, they were the only ones that would come out and hook me up the same day I needed service. I caved and compromised my mores. Mea Culpa!

I didn't mention that my internet blanks out when the phone rings but you nailed it. When someone calls from the intercom downstairs, the internet goes out. Sometimes it takes out my phone service, too. It's done that the whole time I've lived here and I'm well into my second decade at this point.

Good luck with Time Warner. Ahh...cable. I haven't had cable service here since I stopped stealing it from my neighbor down the hall...

“I don't know if that breed is allowed here” Then clueless one, find out by going to the PCVSTLIVING link where other regulations are listed as well. Sigh. The ignorance and selfness of tenants here astounds me. Also, as per the lease, all dogs have to be registered. So, do you think that Nikko, a breed that is not permitted on the property, is registered? I think not.

“A complete listing of the rules and regulations governing pet ownership at PCVST can be found in the Pet Rider to the Lease which all pet owners are required to sign.”

"To state the obvious...and I mean the very obvious...here's the difference between dog ownership here and elsewhere in Manhattan. What makes STPCV different are the grounds. The formerly truly beautiful grounds. Outside of Central Park & Riverside Park, a tremendous rarity in Manhattan south of the GW Bridge. Almost everywhere else dog owners walk their dogs in the streets. But not here. The grounds are what set this place apart. Louse up the grounds & the place is greatly diminished. And that's what we're in the process of seeing...a great place being greatly diminished. There will be more dogs in time and there will be more mess and eventually people start yelling at each other openly. That's what's coming. It's just a matter of time."

Very well said, but the logic will, somehow, elude the dog owners of this complex. I disagree though that people will start yelling at each other. That time has passed and I believe that normal people have pretty much given up. Conversion, I believe is our only hope. Only then will permanent fences be put around every single green area on the property and beautiful planting can once again commence.

Open question to all dog owners (since none obey rules): Does anything go on in that brain of yours while your dog urinates or defecates on the plantings of this property. I mean, in between the screen taps on your Iphone, do you ever glance over to watch your dog doing that? What could you possibly say to yourselves that could allow you to justify your behavior (aside from self absorption)?

To the poster who loves the Husky Nikko: those were very heartwarming thoughts, thank you for sharing.

I am a dog owner who takes my dog ownership seriously.I not only pick up my own dogs poop, but sometimes the poop left by others who are less considerate.Instead of yelling or being upset with the dog owners like myself who do take responciblity why not complain to the security guards who have the cameras to see who allowed their dog to poop and not clean up after????

They have the cameras, let them get these poop violators.It is against the law, let them enforce it!!!!!

I agree anon 10:20. I've often wondered why they don't just use the video system they have in place to go after violators. This place is just so mismanaged right now though (Rose) that I think we'll probably have to wait until we own the place and can kick Rose out and get some competent management. But yeah, I agree with you.

Dream on, this place will not be sold for a long long time.Too much to deal with, this is a huge undertaking, not like some smaller coop or condo project of one or two buildings.The infirstruscture alone is a turn off to buy. And who in this market will want to buy a 3 bedroom one bath!?That is crazy.It works as a rent stabilized complex. Peter Cooper might be a better deal, and one bedrooms in Stuytown, yes but who wants an apartment with one bath for more than one or two persons?We are not living in the 1960s anymore, people want and expect 2 bathrooms for their money.

Like I said, insider price or not, and keep in mind it needs to be low enough that when a buyer sells they can turn a profit too, PCV and one bedrooms in ST will be a better deal for sure. The condition of this place is not what everyone thinks it is.I have been a home owner and I understand how much maintance goes into taking care of a one family home.A lot of maintance is needed here before it will be up to the quality for a smart invester to put down a quarter or half million plus having to pay utilities, AND monthly fee on.How easy do you think it will be to get loans for that kind of money for many middle class families?

I still think the real reason this won't happen for a very long time is because this is a huge undertaking.Not your average transition. Too many voices, too much to address.But whatever will be will be and I do hope for all concerned that it will be the best.I have always loved this place, it has gone down hill with the students, the property, the grounds etc.

I thought this is supposed to be the last hold out for middle class families to raise their kids, how is it a better deal if those who can not get a loan lets say, or can not afford to buy, or don't want to be saddled with a mortgage?Besides the cost will be much more after a mortgage, then ultilies, and then the monthly maintance.I pay my rent and do not have to worry about water, electric and gas and a mortgage.Where do others like me on a fixed income go to in order to have affordable living who have been living here for 20, 30, 40 or more years?

If the place is converted...and especially if it goes co-op, you will see behaviors with respect to dogs change a lot. As owners, people will want their property values to rise. I'm not likely stand idly by as dog owners let their dogs go on the plants & grass and devalue the property. There will definitely be statements in the bylaws about dogs. Renters who own dogs may not care as much as owners. So when owners see violators, there's going to be some yelling at each other. You can depend on that. In the end, this will need to be a managed situation and for the moment the final outcome isn't too clear.

James Roth posted a great letter in the T&V today re the “Accessory Use” BS of allowing the Greenmarket back at the Oval. He also makes a great point of the food trucks and what will constitute a "special event". A special event will be anything that CW Capital/Rose says it is.

"Rest assured, Nico is registered and is allowed in the building and on the property"

So on the one hand, according to the rules,Siberian Huskies aren't allowed, but in the case of Nikko an exception is made? I mean are they allowed or aren't they? This makes no sense to me. This goes beyond management not enforcing existing rules or simply changing them when residents refuse to abide by them. Here we have a case where management is actually explicitly authorizing the keeping of a breed which is forbidden according to the stpcv list of breeds that aren't allowed.

Anony 6.43 PM-Since you don’t give a shit about following the rules and regulations of your lease or care about the impact of your selfish actions, why don’t you give us all your address and I will come over with my old school boom box and blast “Sabotage” (it's my tribute to MCA)over and over again outside your apartment door. When you come out of your apartment to bitch, I will tell you to “get a life”. Narcissistic Douche Bag say what?

Nice language. your mother obviously did a good job raising you. FYI, I have lived here 37 years and am in total compliance with my lease in all respects. I don't have a dog, don't plan on getting a dog and don't even care that much for dogs or any animals for that matter. However, I don't believe in going after people for the sake of getting them into trouble. If that dog's owner says Rose approved the animal and it is registered, then there's not much you can do about it.

Hall of Shame Award to CWCapital from Stuy Town And Peter Cooper Village Tenants

Awarded for the Roberts Settlement Massacre, in which many tenants received mid-lease rent increases from hundreds to over a thousand dollars, compelling tenants to examine the need to move out with their families at short notice. Doubly awarded for the Oval Park Massacre, in which healthy trees were cut down and plantings viciously uprooted to make way for an institutionalized look of order.

Thinking of Renting in PCVST?

Read Yelp reviews to find out what it's like living here.

Banned Dog Breeds in Stuy Town

Cute rottweiler. But... looks like there is some difficulty in enforcing the ban on certain dog breeds allowed inside Stuy Town/Peter Cooper Village. Somehow pitbulls and pitbull mixes have been registered in STPCV and are allowed to be freely walked about the grounds! Another fail of enforcing the rules around here? You decide!

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Stuyvesant Town Newsreel

Read it and Weep

Current Value of ST/PCV

Was 5.4 Billion Dollars when Tishman Speyer bought the place.Became 1.7 Billion Dollars when Tishman Speyer left, with their tail between their legs.Current estimate? Over 2 Billion?

Ex-landlord

Rob Speyer

1947 Stuy Town Plaque Honoring Met Life Chairman F.H. Ecker (Removed in 2002 and never seen again)

"... who with the vision of experience and the energy of youth conceived and brought into being this project, and others like it, that families of moderate means might live in health, comfort and dignity in park-like communities and that a pattern might be set of private enterprise productively devoted to public service."

Co-op/Condo Conversions

Non-Eviction Conversion:
Requires commitment from purchasers for 15% of the apartments. Both rent regulated and market rate tenants are given the opportunity to purchase. Rent regulated tenants cannot be evicted because they choose not to buy. However, the owner is not required to offer a lease renewal to market-rate tenants.
Eviction Conversion:
Requires written commitment from 51% of the tenants in occupancy. All tenants are given the opportunity to purchase. Those who choose not to can be evicted. For rent stabilized tenants who choose not to purchase, they can be evicted within 3 years after the plan is declared effective. However, rent stabilized tenants who are disabled or senior citizens are exempt from eviction. Market rate tenants can be evicted at the end of their lease. Less likely conversion tactic. [The TA insists that any plan they support will be non-eviction.]

I am writing on behalf of everyone at Tishman Speyer to express how honored we are to become part of your outstanding community. We are a business with deep roots in New York, a true love of our city and a great respect for the neighborhoods that make it special. We are committed to maintaining the unique character and environment that have made Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town such a wonderful place to live for so long. We look forward to providing you an extraordinary level of service and attentiveness that will be the source of pride and satisfaction for the entire community.

Neighborhood Recommendations

New to Stuy Town/Peter Cooper Village? Here are some basic recommendations.

Best supermarket: Associated on 14th St. between 1st Ave. and Ave A. The cheapest prices, fantastic weekly sales, very affordable lunches; solid, responsive management. Some of the young female cashiers have attitude to spare, though. May be too far for Peter Cooper residents.

Best deli: A Stuy Town favorite is Lenz's on 20 St. between the 20 St. Loop. The way New York used to be. Be careful of unwanted "pepper" in your food, however. Lenz's has a B grade rating and was temporarily closed down due to an order from the Health Department. Bruno's on First Avenue is more upscale, with a greater selection of food items (higher-priced, too), but was closed down by the Health Department in June.

Best post office: Forget it! The post office on 14th St. is generally a nightmare, with long lines and, now, even shorter hours.

Disappointments:

The Stuy Town Starbucks on First Ave. is not very cozy, and the music in the morning is too loud and uptempo. Gently awaken the souls off to work....

More recommendations to come!

Macular Degeneration Support Group

If you are currently diagnosed with Macular Degeneration, the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary is offering a support group for you. Conveniently located next to the Peter Cooper Village Stuyvesant Town apartment complex, our group offers the opportunity to share stories with other members, listen to expert guest speakers, and learn coping strategies to reduce stress. Our group runs on the first Wednesday of every month and we would enjoy seeing you there.
Please contact Baptiste Nicolas, Social Work Assistant at 212-979-4105 for further information and to see if this group is right for you!